Ex Boks complete IRB course

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Cape Town - Eight former Springboks, all of them part of the South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA) successfully completed the BokSmart Rugby Safety course and attended an IRB Level 2 Coaching workshop in Cape Town this week.

New SARLA CEO Stefan Terblanche, Dale Santon, Pieter Muller, Adrian Jacobs, Quinton Davids, McNeil Hendricks, Wayne Julies and Norman Jordaan were among a large group of former professional rugby players that completed the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) rugby safety programme on Tuesday.

According to Dr Wayne Viljoen, BokSmart Manager at SARU, these former players have a significant role to play in their communities to ensure the game becomes safer.

“People look up to Springbok rugby players and they are the ones that set examples in their communities, which is why we’re very happy that they have taken time out from their busy schedules to complete the BokSmart course,” said Viljoen.

“Through their involvement with SARLA, they also play a very important development role in South African rugby, which is where we would like to see them implement what they’ve learned at the course.

“Rugby safety is something that affects all of us from the young kids playing barefoot up to Springbok level and it’s very important that the right techniques and actions are learnt from a young age.”

A total of 22 former Springboks and provincial players attended the IRB Level 2 RPL (Recognition for Prior Learning) workshop at DHL Newlands on Wednesday.

The workshop is a joint venture between SARU’s Coaching Development Department and SARLA to start a process to accredit former national and provincial players who want to pursue a career in coaching. This will be the first in a series of RPL workshops to accredit former players and experienced coaches.

According to Terblanche, who recently retired from the game after playing in 37 Tests for South Africa and more than 400 First Class matches for Boland, the Sharks, Ulster and Ulster, ploughing back into rugby is vitally important to grow the game.

“BokSmart is something anyone involved in rugby – be it as a top level player, coach, referee or a serious supporter – should get behind,” said Terblanche.

“As former Springboks, we take rugby safety very seriously, and therefore have all taken the time to get ourselves BokSmart certified accordingly. There should be no excuses for anyone involved in rugby or coaching at any level not to complete the BokSmart course. Rugby has given most of us so much over many years and it’s time we gave back to the game we all love so much.”

Former provincial players that joined the eight ex-Boks on both courses include Andries Human, Clarke Roberts, David Hendricks, Faiek Hendricks, Fareed Theunissen, Trevor Arendse and Eugene Maqwelana.

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